2017 WAS Information
Early Bird Registration Deadline Approaching
February 28, 2017 - Early Bird Registration Deadline ($50 discount before 2/28)†Please consider sending one or more high school students to the 2017 World Affairs Seminar "Education and Social Justice" - to be held at Carroll University, Waukesha, Wisconsin June 24 - 30. Last year RI President John Germ opened the World Affairs Seminar (WAS), celebrating its 40th anniversary, celebrating the fact that WAS provides a true international experience at a remarkably low cost. Participants from over 25 nations typically attend. Most are sponsored by Rotary Clubs. They are smart, engaged and motivated. The cost of sending one student is $685 which pays for 6 nights lodging, 6 days of food, field trips, amazing educational experiences in small and large groups, and world class speakers.
Please check out our web site: www.worldaffairsseminar.
This is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt educational organization.
This is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt educational organization.
2017 Brochure: CLICK HERE
Testimonial from a 2016 Delegate:
Note: We refer to those who attend the World Affairs Seminar as "delegates" because they represent their family, their school, their community, the Rotary Club (or other organization) that sponsors them. The meeting he refers to is the one at which he made a presentation about his experience at the 2016 World Affairs Seminar. (T. Plantenberg)
Hi Ted/Mr. Plantenberg,
I remember saying at last week’s (Rotary)meeting that it was definitely one of the best weeks of my life. Quite honestly, even though we were primarily there to learn about the global water issues, the most meaningful part was meeting and interacting with everyone from around the world. There were many different types of people there, but they were all the same in one regard: I never felt once that I couldn’t sit down at any random table in the dining area and instantly be welcomed into a group- as if we had been friends forever. It sounds a bit cheesy (it was in Wisconsin, after all) but it really did feel like everyone there was there for a reason. Unlike most discussions in my current classes, every single person in our individual groups was excited to participate (even the initially timid Nepali kids) and perhaps what stood out the most is how well everyone was able to articulate themselves.
I looked forward to each and group session because we’d managed to build such a great chemistry only after our first few meetings together. To my surprise, the kids who were shy and didn’t talk much weren’t just left in the dust; people in my group recognized that, addressed the elephant in the room that everyone should feel comfortable, and then those people opened up and shared their ideas. It was an incredible atmosphere.
At our closing ceremony, I recall Mr. Plantenberg (or whoever was on stage at the end) saying something in the fashion of ”you will all be changing the world someday". It’s one of those trite things I hear quite often at different degrees, but that was the first time where I really thought that I might be surrounded by future Elon Musks, Rosa Parkses, or Stephen Kings. Again, it might sound a bit sappy, but it was the first experience where I felt like the unique mold of every single person was embraced.... Those who initially thought it would be the worst week of their lives actually ended up going on stage during the closing ceremony saying how the people around them perked them up I can’t even count how many people almost cried on stage when talking about leaving, how many teary-eyed hugs were given on the last day, or how many post-seminar Facebook group posts there were saying how much everybody was missed.
...one of the reasons WAS crosses my mind so often is because it exposes the flaws I see in my school and community, and provides a clear benchmark towards what we should aim for. It has helped me learn about where I might thrive and has influenced the types of colleges that I have applied to.
Again, I really can’t speak for everyone, but this experience was one of the best 5-day periods of my life.
I would be beyond thrilled to attend WAS in 2018 as a counselor...
Joel Saarinen
Lake Oswego, OR